WHEN Desray Cameron was crippled in a horrific accident she not only lost the use of her legs, she also feared she may never play the sport she loved again.

WHEN Desray Cameron was crippled in a horrific accident she not only lost the use of her legs, she also feared she may never play the sport she loved again.

Mrs Cameron, of Quantock Close, Rushmere St Andrew, was in hospital for eight months and was eventually confined to a wheelchair after her scooter collided with a car in late 2005.

As well as being severely injured, 60-year-old Mrs Cameron, known to her friends as Des, was told that her wheelchair could not be used on the grass at her beloved Newton Road Bowls Club.

Now, more than 18 months since her accident, her love affair with the sport is set to begin again after friends raised more than £2,000 to pay for a specialist chair.

Mrs Cameron said: “People have been so kind in raising the money.

“What can I say about them? They are marvellous and have just been absolutely wonderful.

“It has given me a big boost.

“They are determined to get me back on the bowling green and have even made a ramp so the wheelchair can get down onto the grass.

“They are just special people.”

Mrs Cameron said she previously played bowls several times a week and is itching to get back into the game.

After taking up bowls in 2000 she soon caught the bug and rose to the post of captain for one of the teams.

Her current wheelchair enables her to play carpet bowls but she is keen to get on to the grass this summer for the traditional version of the popular sport.

She said: “I really miss playing bowls. It is a huge passion of mine.

“I'm really looking forward to playing again.

“It will be good to get some kind of normality back.”

The fundraising effort for Mrs Cameron was organised by Ronnie Markwell, a fellow bowler at Newton Road.

Mr Markwell said: “It was so disappointing when she realised she wasn't going to play again.

“A lot of people were determined that wouldn't be the case.”

Mr Markwell gathered together a group of friends, including Sam Horsfield, Bridgett Jackaman, Alex Shulver, Phil Cory and Dennis Maisey to put on a variety show to raise money.

In addition to other events, a total of £1,500 was raised.

A further £950 was donated by Newton Road Bowls Club.

Money left over after the purchase of the chair was donated to the East Anglian Children's Hospice.

Have your friends made amazing efforts to help you? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk